Six Senses to open first resort in Israel in the Negev Desert’s Arava Valley

October 25, 2017

Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas is delighted to announce the latest project in the group’s expanding portfolio with its first resort in Israel. Set in the Negev Desert, Six Senses Shaharut will be nestled into a dramatic cliff with panoramic views of the desert and feature 58 suites and villas including a three-bedroom retreat.The resort is found in the small community of Shaharut – which translates as the moment just before dawn – to the south of the desert which covers more than half of Israel.

The architecture of the resort has been designed to integrate the desert topography while preserving its natural terrain. The villas will be built from, and inspired by, local rocks and pigments and the landscape will utilise regional cacti and indigenous desert blooms. Exterior lighting will be thoughtfully considered to avoid light pollution at night, preserving the pristine clarity of the starry sky. Many furnishing elements of the resort will be sourced from a partnership with local community artisans.

The all-day restaurant will serve a fresh buffet breakfast, a la carte lunches and seasonally themed dinners. A poolside bar and grill will open for lunch and dinner and a juice bar and alchemy bar will be located at the spa. There will also be a multi-use function room which can accommodate up to 100 guests. Fresh ingredients will be harvested seasonally from the resort’s own gardens or from local farmers at the nearby kibbutzim.

A Six Senses Spa will offer a layered approach to wellness that unites a pioneering spirit with treatments that go beyond ordinary. In addition to a range of signature massages, restorative therapies, facials, body treatments and personal journeys, the spa will be the pivotal point for Six Senses Integrated Wellness, which is based on the preventative principles of Eastern medicine and the result-oriented Western influences. This innovative approach will allow in-house experts to measure and analyse key physiological biomarkers in order to provide guests with lifestyle and nutritional advice as well as a personalised programme of spa treatments, fitness and wellness activities. It will provide guests with real health benefits, enhance their lives and educate and guide them on their wellness journey. Facilities will include a 262-foot (18-metre) indoor pool, 80-foot (25-metre) outdoor lap pool, full-equipped gym, yoga studio with desert views and a nail bar.

“We are very excited to announce this magical Six Senses project in the desert of Israel. Working with Arava Vineyards Ltd. on Six Senses Shaharut has allowed us to align with a company that shares our vision of sustainability and wellness” said Chief Executive Officer Neil Jacobs. “We could not ask for a better partner or a more perfect setting to showcase the best of Israel”.

The resort will be home to a desert activity centre which will incorporate Six Senses’ brand-wide ‘Earth Lab’ scheme and showcase its sustainability efforts to reduce consumption, produce locally and support communities and ecosystems. Guests will be invited to visit the Earth Lab to reconnect with the natural world and learn some simple life-hacks that will allow them to make a difference. There will be functioning camel stables with an arena and grooming area as well as an open-air amphitheater created from the natural terrain contours and transformed into a Cinema Paradiso beneath the stars. A tented Bedouin dining experience will also be created at the heart of the resort’s oasis, complete with a fire pit for late night feasting using centuries-old sand cooking techniques. In respect of the environment, the resort will only feature electric cars throughout the property.

Six Senses Shaharut will also offer a host of activities including a dedicated kids club, off-road driving, mountain climbing, mountain biking, camel safaris, craft workshops, bird watching and wine tours. Eilat, which is located on the Red Sea, is ideal for families; a 60-minute drive from Shaharut, the resort town features calm waters, abundant sea life and excellent snorkelling and diving. Camel camping overnights can also be arranged with flair and comfort, while dune walking with Bedouins will include fascinating story telling and desert lore. Trips further afield can be arranged to Petra, Masada, Mount Karkom and the Dead Sea.

The journey to Shaharut will form part of the story. Flights to Eilat from Tel Aviv will take 50 minutes followed by a 45-minute transfer to the resort from the new international airport, Ramon. Currently under development, the airport will serve domestic flights and major carriers from key European markets. Driving from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem will take around three-and-a-half hours or three hours from Petra in neighbouring Jordan.